Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Loretta Lynn's Regional Qualifier: Red Bud Track and Trail Events By Larry Witmer BUCHANAN, MI, MAY 1-2 avid Millsaps swept both motos of the highly competitive 8Scc (913) division on his No Fear/Factory Connection/Dyna Port/Bell/Cernics Suzuki. There were several Michigan speedsters, such as ick Adams and Josh LichtJe, keeping the pressure on Millsaps, but the florida resident did not fold under that pressure. The 1250 riders that came out to Red Bud were greeted with sunny skies and warm temperatures. The Ritchie crew worked hard all weekend to keep the track in tip-top racing condition, with loamy soil for dust-free racing. The opening moto of the 85cc (9-13) class saw Millsaps corne out with the hoJeshot, followed by Robert Kiniry, Nick Adams and Josh Lichtle. Millsaps opened up a small lead on the opening lap while Adams was on the move, passing Lichtle in the sand switchback area. At the completion of the first lap, Millsaps had a two-second lead over the second spot. Adams charged the finish line with an inside line, overtaking Kiniry coming toward the tunnel jump. It looked like it might be a Millsaps/Adams showdown, but things went bad for Millsaps In the rough and choppy sand switchbacks. Millsaps' Suzuki caught one of the braking bumps and pitched him over the bars. Adams cruised past the downed Millsaps and took the lead. The running order was now Adams, Lichtle and Millsaps, who quickly remounted and got going before Kiniry could get by. Millsaps charged and got by Lichtle at the finish-line jump. Adams had a small advantage over Millsaps, taking the white £lag, with Lichtie just behind the front-runners, holding Kiniry at bay for third. Millsaps turned up the throttle and the pressure on the final lap, challenging Adams going up LaRocco Leap and taking an outside line with more momentum through the corner after the Leap. It worked for Millsaps; he took the lead and the win with a small advantage over Adams. Lichtle kept Kiniry at bay for third, and Matt Hopkins cruised in for fifth. In the second moto, Millsaps showed the power of his Performance Engineering RM by taking another holeshot over the field. Lichtle was second, Adams third and Brad Ripple fourth. The competition saw no more of Millsaps, as he checked out, winning the moto with a huge advantage. But it was far from a dull race, with the fight for the runner-up slot turning into a great battle. Adams powered by Lichtle for second on the opening lap in the Apple Orchard with a faster outside line. Lichtle kept the pressure on Adams for the entire moto, with Kiniry just behind the duo. On the last lap, Adams made a mistake in the Valley Jump area just after the triples, going for the comer prior to the Double/Double Pipe Jump. The front end of Adams' KX washed out. Millsaps cruised in for the win. Lichtle was second and Kiniry third. Adams remounted and carne home fourth. Jacob Marsack brought his YZ in for fifth, good for fifth overall. "1 have wanted to race here for a long time, and my dad said we could corne up here for the qualifier," said Millsaps about his trip to Red Bud. "This is a great track. It's one of my favorite O (Above) David Millsaps grabbed the holeshot in the highly competitive 85cc (913) class at the Loretta Lynn's regional qualifier in Buchanan, Michigan. (Left) Damien Plotts came away with the 125cc A-class win at the Red Bud Track and Trail event. tracks. 1 don't care for the sand we have in florida. Gary Bailey helped me with my riding style, and 1 would like to thank him. It has really helped." "The track was great today," said second-placed Josh Lichtle. "1 love the jumps, especially the Double/Double. 1 tried to keep the pressure on Nick that last moto, and it looked like the front end washed out. 1 have been training hard and hope to get top five at Loretta Lynn's." CII Red Bud Track and Trail Buchanan, Michigan Results: May 1-2, 1999 Saturday AUTO (4-8), 1. James Robert (Yam); 2. Zach Bossler (Yam); 3. Jared Cline (Yam); 4. Cameron Booth (Yam); 5. Dyllon Yaw (Yam). AUTO (4-6): 1. James Schnaus (Cob); 2. Derrick Holpuch (Cob); 3. Austin Nelson (Lem); 4. Christian Parrish (Cob); 5. Brock Bemholtz (I

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